SUNDAY, MAY 26, 1996 WANNAROO RACEWAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.... The Craig
Lowndes juggernaut rolled on at Wannaroo when "Das Wunderkid" took another
3 out of 3 in round 8 of the Shell Australian Touring Car Championships.
Starting from pole Lowndes was never headed and now looks certain to take
Australia's premier series in his rookie year. Ford driver Glen Seton
finished second overall after Lowndes' team-mate Peter Brock failed to
finish in the third heat for the second meeting in a row.
Lowndes took pole for the first heat from the rapidly improving Alan Jones
in the Pack Leader Racing Ford Falcon. Brock was IN third from Seton and
defending champ John Bowe who's title chances have dwindled following his
huge crash at Phillip Island.
In Race 1 it was Lowndes making his now customary lightning start from
Jones and Brock. Calder round winner Russell Ingall and Jones' team-mate
Paul Romano came together off the line putting both well out of
contention.
Brock worked his way past Jones to set up yet another factory Holden
Commodore  one two, Jones hung on for third from Seton while Wayne Gardner
just out dragged John Bowe to the line for a fine fifth.

Race two was almost a carbon copy of the first with Lowndes and Brock out
classing the rest for another formation finish. Alan Jones had a big lock
up which let first Glen Seton and the John Bowe through before Jones
pitted to change his flat spotted Bridgestones. Ingall retired with body
damage as his team leader Larry Perkins battled with the privateers for
the final top ten positions. Gardner repeated his first heat pass on Bowe
who just held off Mark Skaife for fifth.

Dick Johnson started from the pit lane, Wayne Gardner spun taking Larry
Perkins along for the ride and John Bowe copped a stop go penalty for
rolling at the start. Meanwhile up front things looked set for yet another
Mobil/Holden Racing Team quinella in Race three when for the second
meeting in a row Peter Brock retired with a gearbox problem. Australia's
fastest sit down comedian Dick Johnson told TV viewers via Racecam that
his Falcon had "less grip than a dog on lino" before his car gave up under
the pressure of his cutting wit.  Lowndes ran away with the win from
Seton, Jones and Mark Skaife in his best result for some time.
Overall Lowndes stood tall from Seton and Peter Brock but the racing was
to say the least disappointing with the organisers stated objective of
performance parity now so complete that the big V8s seldom ever seem to
pass each other. The cars are close but a procession is still a procession
no matter how fast it passes by.

HEAT ONE
DRIVER   TEAM  CAR   TYRE
==========================================================
CRAIG LOWNDES  MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
PETER BROCK MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
ALAN JONES  PACK LEADER RACING   FORD FALCON BS
GLEN SETON  FORD CREDIT RACING   FORD FALCON BS
WAYNE GARDNER  COCA COLA/WAYNE GARDNER RACING   HOLDEN COMMODORE  D
JOHN BOWE   SHELL/FAI/DICK JOHNSON RACING FORD FALCON D
HEAT TWO
DRIVER   TEAM  CAR   TYRE
===========================================================
CRAIG LOWNDES  MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
PETER BROCK MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
GLEN SETON  FORD CREDIT RACING   FORD FALCON BS
WAYNE GARDNER  COCA COLA/WAYNE GARDNER RACING   HOLDEN COMMODORE  D
JOHN BOWE   SHELL/FAI/DICK JOHNSON RACING FORD FALCON D
MARK SKAIFE GIBSON MOTORSPORT HOLDEN COMMODORE  Y
HEAT THREE
DRIVER   TEAM  CAR   TYRE
===========================================================
CRAIG LOWNDES  MOBIL/HOLDEN RACING TEAM   HOLDEN COMMODORE  BS
GLEN SETON  FORD CREDIT RACING   FORD FALCON BS
ALAN JONES  PACK LEADER RACING   FORD FALCON BS
MARK SKAIFE GIBSON MOTORSPORT HOLDEN COMMODORE  Y
TONY LONGHURST TEAM CASTROL   FORD FALCON Y
RUSSELL INGALL TEAM CASTROL   HOLDEN COMMODORE  D

OVERALL
CRAIG LOWNDES
GLEN SETON
PETER BROCK

POINTS AFTER ROUND 8
CRAIG LOWNDES  341
JOHN BOWE   282
GLEN SETON  260
PETER BROCK 204
RUSSELL INGALL 158
NEXT ROUND MALLALLA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA SUNDAY JUNE 2.

-- 
Brett Ramsey